Friction-clutch.



PATENTED JULY 18., 1905.

A. L. HERKENHOPF. FRICTION CLUTCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.18,1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 795,037. PATBNTED JULY 18, 1905. A. L. HERKBNHOFP.

FRICTION CLUTCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.18.1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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PATENT Patented July 18, 1905.

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ANTHONY L. HERKENI IOFF, OF MINSTER, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE MIN STER MACHINE COMPANY, A COMPANY EXISTING UNDER THE LAW OF OHIO.

FRICTION-CLUTCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 795,037, dated July 18, 1905. Application filed March 18, 1904. Serial No. 198,844.

To (all 1071/0711, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ANTHONY L. HERKEN- noFF, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minster, in the county of Auglaize and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Friction-Clutches, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in friction clutches, hereinafter set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The object of this invention is to provide inner and outer friction expansion-rings, which will be composed of two independent and opposing balanced sections, one section comprising alternate inner and outer poised segments and the other section comprising similar alternate inner and outer poised segments, the inner segment of the one section being opposed to the outer segment of the other section, and both of which segments are independent of each other, so that the frictional contact of the inner and outer friction-rings with the friction-surfaces of the clutch-pulley will be readily obtained by expanding or separating said independent and opposing segments; also, to construct the friction-ring segments so that the inner segment will counterbalance the outer segment of each section, whereby the centrifugal force of said segments of the friction-rings will be counteracted to prevent said friction-rings contacting with the friction-surfaces of the said clutch-pulley when. released, thereby promptly releasing the said pulley when said friction-rings are not required to operate to engage the said pulley. I attain. these objects by means of the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which similar numerals of reference designate like parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is an end elevation of the clutchpulley looking in the direction of the arrow a. (See Fig. 2.) Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional elevation of the clutch-pulley, taken through the line A B. (See Fig. 1.) Fig. 3 is a detail View of the expansion friction-ring, showing the position of the opposing sections thereof. Fig. 4 is a part transverse sectional view of the same, taken through the line a Z). Fig. 5 is a detail View of the lever-carrier. Fig. 6 is a detail view of one of the sections of the friction-rings, and Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the friction-ring-clutch operating lever.

The pulley 1 has its hub 2 truly bored to turn on the sleeve 3 between the collar 4 thereof and the clutch-lever carrier 5, by and between which collar 4 and lever-carrier 5 said pulley is retained in position on said sleeve. The sleeve 3 is secured on the shaft 6 to turn therewith by means of a set-screw 7 or other suitable means, as a key, and the clutch-lever carrier 5 is also secured to said shaft to turn therewith by a key or set-screw, or both.

The end of the hub 2 between the web 8 of the pulley 1 and the clutch-lever carrier 5 1s turned 011 its peripheral surface to be con centric with the axis of rotation of the pulley, and consequently with the periphery of the said hub 2, and intermediate between the hub 2 and the rim of the pulley 1 is formed integral therewith the friction-flange 9, and the same is truly turned on its inner peripheral surface to have its surface equally distant from the peripheral surface of the hub 2. The friction clutch-ring is composed of two opposing sections, each of which comprises an inner segment 10 and an outer segment 1 1., and each of said alternate inner and outer segments is connected at one of its ends to, or is constructed to form a single integral piece with, the connecting-block 12, and each of said inner and outer segments 10 and 11 is of equal weight, so that the centrifugal force of the inner segment 10 will counterbalance that of the outer segment 1.1, and the said block 12 of said segment is drilled to receive their pivotal retaining-pins 13, upon which said friction-ring sections are mounted, and the said pivotal pins 13 are screwed in the bore of the lugs 14, formed integral on the clutch-lever carrier 5 by its retaining-nut 15, so that the inner segments 10 are free to be forced against the peripheral surface of the hub 2, and the outer segments 11 are forced outwardly against the inner peripheral surface of the friction-flange 9, and each ofthe opposing sections constituting the frictionring is free to operate simultaneously and independently of the other. The driving force of the shaft 6 or the pulley 1, as the .case may be, is transmitted directly from the friction-segments 10 and 11 to said pivotal pins 13, and the expanding clutch-levers 16 are released of all transverse stress, which would tend to bend or distort them and render them inoperative. The expanding clutch-levers 16 of the friction-clutch segments 10 and 11 are disposed at equal distances apart from the center of the sleeve 5 at diametrically opposing sides thereof, and the same are adapted to freely work between the guide-lugs 17, formed integral on the said clutch-lever carrier 5. The guidelugs 17 are provided with the guide-slots 18, in which latter the guide-pins 1.9 of the levers 16 freely work, and the said pins are provided for the purpose of retaining the said *levers in position and preventing them from moving longitudinally. The clutch-levers 16 are provided with the rounded bearing portions or toes 20 and 21, which project slightly above the bottom and top edges of the said levers, and said toes are so situated relatively to each other that when the free ends of the said levers 16 are moved outwardly said toes will bear against said opposing friction-segments 10 and 11 to separate them and force them against the friction contact surfaces of the pulley 1- namely, the flange 9 and the hub 2. The lines connecting the centers of the opposing toes 20 and 21 are at an angle with the longitudinal axis of the levers 16, and the said lines form the short lever-arms of the said clutch-levers. Toes or engaging pins 2O" and 21 are situated on said levers centrally with the toes 20 and 21., and the same project from each side of said clutch-levers 16 for the purpose of engaging the retaininglips 10 and 11, formed integral on the lugs 10 and 11 of the friction-segments 10 and 11. This construction is provided for the purpose of positively moving said frictionsegments 10 and 11 from the frictionclutch surfaces 'of the pulley 1 to release the latter and retain said friction-segments in released position.

The free or outer ends of the levers 16 are cranked or offset outwardly to provide suitable clearance or space for the proper working of the toggle-links 22.

A traversing sleeve 23 is mounted on the shaft 6 to turn therewith and to be traversed longitudinally thereon, and the said sleeve is provided with the lugs 24, which are pivoted to the ends of the adjustable end members 25 of the toggle-links 22. The toggle-links 22 are provided with the eyebolt end members 25, which have their threaded ends screwed in the ends of the toggles 22, which end members 25 are pivotally connected to the lugs 24 of the traversing sleeve 23, and the said construction is provided for the purpose of varying and adjusting the lengths of the toggles as the friction-segments 10 and 11 are worn and need take-up. Lock-nuts 26 are also provided for locking the said end members 25 of the toggles 22 and preventing the eyebolts or end members 25 from working loose. The traversing sleeve 23 may be traversed on said shaft 6 either while the latter is in motion or at rest to either relieve the said friction-segemnts or engage the same through and by means of any suitable operating elutchlever the construction of which is well known and needs no description.

It is obvious that it is immaterial whether the shaft 6 or the pulley 1 be the driver, as the mechanism is operative under either condition of power transmission.

When it is required to release the frictionsegments 10 and 11 or move them out of contact with the friction-surfaces of the hub 2 and the flange 9, the sleeve 23 is traversed on the shaft 6 in the direction of the arrow a to cause the free ends of the clutch-levers 16 to approach radially near the said shaft, thereby releasing the contacting toes 20 and 21 of said levers from contact with the friction-segments 10 and 11, which segments are operated to positively recede by the pins or toes 20 and 21, and said friction-segments are positively held in said released normal position and out of contact with the frictionsurfaces of the hub 2 and the flange 9 by said pins 20 and 21", thereby permitting the free rotation of the pulley on the shaft 6. It is obvious that when it is necessary to cause the friction or clutch segments 10 and 1.1 to engage or bind their opposing surfaces or the surfaces of the hub 2 and the flange 9 to cause the pulley 1 to turn with the shaft 6 the traversing sleeve 23 is traversed on said shaft in the direction opposed to that indicated by the arrow a till it reaches the position shown in Fig. 2, in which position the bearing-toes 20 and 21 of the levers 16 oper-' ate to expand or separate said segments 10 and 11 to bind them between said surfaces of the hub 2 and the flange 9 to cause said pulley 1 to rotate with said shaft 6. In order that the frictional resistance between the bearingsurfaces of the ring members 10 and 11 and the friction-surfaces of the hub 2 and the flange 9 of the clutch-pulley 23 be increased to the maximum, I provide a thin layer or sheathing of friction-producing material, as 27, preferably flbersheeting, whichis first cut to the proper size and firmly secured to each of the surfaces of the ring members 10 and 11 and the surfaces of the hub 2 and the flange 9 by suit? able rivets or other fastenings which have their heads countersunk into said fiber covering to present a smooth even surface of contact. Another important feature of this invention to be particularly noted is the manner of neutralizing the centrifugal force exerted by the ends of the clutch-levers 16 and applied to the opposing balanced segments 10 and 11, The too or pin 20" of the clutch-lever 16 engages the lips 10 of the inner section 10 of the friction-ring on one side of the hub 2 of the pulley, and the toe or pin 21 similarly engages the lip 11 of the outer segment 11 on the same side of the hub. Similarly, the toe or pin 20 of the opposing clutch.lever 16 engages the lip 10" of the inner opposing segment 10 of the friction-ring on the opposite side of the hub 2 of the pulley, and the toe or pin 21 similarly engages the lip 11 of the outer segment 11 on this side of the hub 2, and thus while the centrifugal force exerted by the end of one of the clutchlevers 16 is applied to the lips 10 to force the segment 10 outwardly the centrifugal force exerted by the end of the opposing clutch-lever 16 is applied to the bearing situated between the lips 11 to force the segment 11 outwardly, and thus two diametrically opposing forces are applied to the segments 10 and 1.1 of the same section which balance, and the opposing inner and outer sections are at all times maintained in equilibrium.

Having thus .fully described this my invention, what I claim as new and useful, and de sire to cover by Letters Patent of the United States therefor, is

1. In a clutch-pulley, the combination with a shaft, a pulley adapted to turn on said shaft, a hub on said pulley and a rim concentric with said hub, of a friction or clutch ring composed of a pair of inner and outer opposing balanced sections, said sections situated between the rim and the hub of said pulley, means for separating or spreading apart said friction or clutch ring sections to engage said pulley, means fixed on said shaft for pivotally supporting said opposing sections at their centers of gravity, and independent supporting means whereto the separating or spreadin means are secured to rotate with said sha t.

2. In a clutch-pulley, the combination with a shaft, a pulley adapted to turnon said shaft, a hub on said pulley and a rim concentric with said hub, of a friction or clutch ring composed of a pair of opposing balanced sections situated between the rim and the hub of said pulley and each section compris- 3. In a clutch pulley, the combination with a shaft, a pulley adapted to turn on said shaft, a hub on said pulley and a rim concentrio with said hub, of a friction or clutch ring composed of a pair of opposing balanced sections situated between the rim and the hub, of said pulley, each opposing section comprising alternate inner and outer balanced segments, levers situated on diametrically opposite sides of said shaft for separating or spreading apart said friction or clutch ring sections to engage said pulley, means for pivotally supporting said opposing sections at their centers of gravity, and independent supporting means whereto the separating or spreading levers are secured to rotate with said shaft.

4. In a clutch pulley, the combination with a shaft, a pulley adapted to turn on said. shaft, a hub on said pulley and a rim concentrio with said hub, of a friction or clutch ring composed of a pair of opposing balanced sections situated between the rim and the hub of said pulley, each opposing section comprising alternate inner and outer balanced segments, and each of said sections formed in a single integral piece, means for separating or spreading apart said friction or clutch ring sections to engage said pulley, means for pivotally supporting said opposing sections at their centers of gravity, and independent supporting means whereto the separating or spreading means are secured to rotate with said shaft.

5. In a clutch pulley, the combination. with a shaft, a pulley adapted to turn on said shaft, a hub on said pulley and a rim concentric with said hub, of a friction or clutch ring composed of a pair of opposing balanced sections situatedbetween the rim and the hub of said pulley, each opposing section comprising alternate inner and outer balanced segments, and each of said sections formed in a single integral piece, levers situated on diametrically opposite sides of said shaft for separating or spreading apart said friction or clutch ring sections to engage the rim and hub of said pulley, means on said shaft for pivotally supporting said balanced segments at their centers of gravity, and independent supporting-levers whereby said separating or spreading levers are carried to rotate with said shaft.

6. In a clutch pulley, the combination with a shaft, a pulley adapted to turn on said shaft, a hub on said pulley and a rim concentrio with said hub, of a friction or clutch ring composed of a pair of opposing balanced sections pivoted at their central portions and situated between the rim and the hub of the pulley, each opposing section comprising alternate inner and outer balanced segments, and each of said sections formed in a single integral piece, means for separating or spreading apart said friction or clutch ring sections to engage said pulley, means for pivotally supporting said balanced segments at their centers of gravity, and independent supporting means wherebysaid separating or spreading means are carried to rotate with said shaft.

7. In a clutch-pulley, the combination with a shaft, a pulley adapted to turn on said shaft, a hub on said pulley and a rim concentrio with said hub, of a friction or clutch ring composed of opposing balanced sections pivoted at their central portions and situated between the rim and the hub of the pulley, each opposing section comprising alternate inner and outer balanced segments, and each of said sections formed in a single integral piece, a lever-carrier secured on said shaft to turn therewith, opposing clutch-levers situated on diametrically opposite sides of said shaft and guided by said lever-carrier, said levers having their operative or separating ends situated between the inner and outer segments of said friction-ring sections, and said balanced segments pivotally mounted on said lever-carrier, and, means'for operating said levers to separate said opposing segments of said friction-ring.

8. In a clutch pulley, the combination with a shaft, a pulley adapted to turn on said shaft, a hub on said pulley and a rim concentrio with said hub, of a friction or clutch ring composed of opposing pivotally-mounted balanced sections situated between the rim and the hub of said pulley, each opposing section comprising alternate inner and outer balanced segments, outwardly-extending engaging lips formed on the peripheral outer surface of said inner segments, inwardly-ex tending opposing engaging lips formed on the inner peripheral surface of said outer segments, a lever-carrier secured on said shaft to turn therewith, means for pivotally securing said segments at their centersof gravity to said levercarrier, opposing clutch-levers situated on diametrically opposite sides of said shaft, said levers having their operative or separating ends situated between the inner and outer segments of said friction-ring sections, engaging pins extending from the sides of the operative ends of said levers and adapted to engage the inwardly and outwardly extending engaging lips of said segments, and means for operating the said le- Vers to expand or separate said friction-ring segments,

9. In a clutch pulley, the combination with a shaft, a pulley adapted to turn on said shaft, a hub on said pulley and a rim concentric with said hub, of a friction or clutch ring composed of opposing pivotally-mounted balanced sections situated between the rim and the hub of said pulley, each opposing section comprising alternate inner and outer balanced segments, the inner segment of the one opposite to the outer segment of the other, a lever-carrier secured on the said shaft to turntherewith, opposing clutch-levers situated on diametrically opposite sides of said shaft and having their operative or separating ends situated between the inner and outer segments of said friction-ring sections, means for pivotally securing said segments at their centers of gravity to said lever-carrier, means for connecting the operative ends of the said levers to the inner and outer segments of said friction-ring sections so that the centrifugal force of the said levers is divided between and counterbalanced by said inner and outer balanced segments, and means for operating said levers to expand said friction-ring segments.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ANTHONY L. HERKENHOFF.

Witnesses CARL RErsELT, WILLIAM HARRISON. 

